Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128136
USA Team Motocross Championships Cycle Ranch MX Park • Team MX a Standout Cit (Left) Spud Walters 160) pulls the holeshot In the first mota of the 250cc Pro contest at the first-ever USA Team Motocross Championships, ahead of Johnny Martey 1901), James Marshall 145), Jeff Gibson 1275), Chad Cook 1118), Heath Voss and Chase Reed (both right behind Walters), Keith Johnson 125) and the rest of the hungry pack vying for the $20,000 Pro purse. STORY AND PHOTOS BY GARY T. OBER FLORESVILLE, TX, NOV. 23-25 ore than 400 racers came from all over the country to attend the inaugural USA Team Motocross Championships, held at the Cycle Ranch MX Park, located just east of San Antonio, Texas. The weather was perfect for three solid days of competition and drew thousands of spectators. The event was sponsored by EVS Speed Protection, Renthal, Parts Unlimited, PromiseLand Dairy, VP Racing Fuel, Fly, Cycle Country, Lazy J Barbecue, Alamo Cycle Plex and Yamaha of San Antonio. The race was a Trophy de Nationsstyle event that featured a three-moto format. The top 42 riders who qualified represented their states in threeman teams. The top 10 individual team championship race winners and the top three teams were awarded medallions in an Olympic-style presentation. Championship winners will also have their names engraved on a perpetual trophy that will reside at the AMA Museum in Ohio. Cycle Ranch also ran a full schedule of regular Pro-Am classes, with special oversized trophies and a $20,000 Pro purse. The facility also provided a live band from San Antonio, called Jokesters, for the Saturday night party. Cycle Country Yamaha/Spy/Sobel Maxima/Fly-backed Brandon Beabout from San Antonio was the rider with the most victories during the three-day event, winning all six of his qualifying M 54 JANUARY 9, 2002' cue • (Above) Brandon Beabout racked up the most victories during the three-day event in Roresvllle, Texas, winning all six of his qualifying motos and claiming the 125cc Intermediate and 250cc Open-class wins, as well as a 250cc championship UUe for Team New York with his partner Robert Lee Foster. (Left) Heath Voss en route to the second-moto victory in the 250cc Pro contest at Cycle Ranch MX Park. • n e _ s motos. Beabout also claimed the 125cc Intermediate and 250cc Openclass wins, as well as a 250cc championship title for Team New York with his Yamaha-mounted partner Robert Lee Foster, who qualified with a 6-3-5 score, giving him fifth place overall and a third for Team New York. Team New Mexico's David' Jensen was also riding extremely well, posting a 5-4-3 score during 125cc qualifying, earning him third overall and a second-place finish in 250cc qualifying with a 2-2-2 score. Jensen's team finished out the weekend with a secondplace finish in the 125cc and 250cc championships. Jensen also won the 125cc and 250cc Novice classes. Team Texas took the 125cc championship title, with all three riders making the top 10. The team consisted of Foster (who finished third), Austin Miller (who finished sixth), and Clint Breslin (who finished eighth). Yamaha-mounted Kyle Phenix led his Tennessee team to a strong third place overall during the 125cc championship final. Phenix finished in fourth place, with his teammates Adam Fink and Josh Putman finishing in 10th and 23rd, respectively. Texas MX guru Kent Howerton was on the gas again, battling hard with Cycle Country/VP Racing Fuelbacked Keith Simmons in all three Over 30 championship qualifier motos. Although Howerton won all of his motos, Simmons did control the lead for several laps and almost pulled off the second-moto win. Joe Bob Ebers was also in the early mix but suddenly became ill and left the track before his final moto. Ebers went 3-3, and Simmons finished with a 2-2-2 score. Yamaha-mounted Chuck Young capitalized on Ebers' absence, qualifying in third and just edging out fellow YZ racer Lawrence Morris, who qualified in fourth with a 5-4-5 tally. Bobby Meche of San Antonio rounded out the top-five qualifying with a 9-7 -6 score. One of the most exciting qualifiers of the day was the 85cc class. Taylor Painter from Grandbury, Texas, posted a perfect 1-1-1 score, beating out 25 other hungry young motoheads. Painter finished third in the Team Championship with his partner Miller taking fourth, giving them first overall for Team Texas. Michael Royal qualified second with a 2-3-2 score, followed by Taylor Smith, Bruce Dehn and Adam Reason.